Gonzaga, UCLA meet in Sweet 16, renewing NCAA Tournament rivalry
Mar. 23—Pregame
It's nearly time for another March Madness meeting between these West Coast powers turned postseason rivals.
No. 2 seed UCLA and No. 3 seed Gonzaga face off in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament tonight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tipoff is set for 6:45 p.m. on CBS.
The Bulldogs (30-5) edged Texas Christian 84-81 in the Round of 32, while the Bruins (31-5) held off Northwestern 68-63. The winner of tonight's game advances to face either Arkansas or Connecticut in the Elite Eight.
Gonzaga and UCLA have played seven times, with three in the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins scored the final 11 points to snatch a victory from the Zags in the 2006 Sweet 16. GU beat UCLA in the 2015 Sweet 16 and then again in the 2021 Final Four on a buzzer-beater from Jalen Suggs.
Both teams lost in the Sweet 16 of last year's tournament.
Gonzaga, the co-West Coast Conference regular-season champion and WCC Tournament champion, enters Las Vegas on an 11-game win streak.
UCLA, the Pac-12 regular-season champion, has won 14 of its last 15, only losing to Arizona 61-59 in the Pac-12 Tournament final. The Bruins are banged up, however, with Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Jaylen Clark is out for the season. Adem Bona, Kenneth Nwuba and David Singleton are questionable.
Team stats
Individual leaders
Game preview
Key matchup: Gonzaga's Drew Timme hoping close friend Anton Watson can slow down good friend Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Drew Timme has known UCLA's Jaime Jaquez Jr. for years, dating back to their days as prep standouts. They were roommates at the Ballislife All-American game and caught up at the ESPYS when Gonzaga's pulsating 93-90 overtime against the Bruins in the 2021 Final Four won "Best Game" award. Their friendship is taking Thursday night off when third-seeded Gonzaga tangles with No. 2 UCLA at T-Mobile Arena. — Read more
More on the Zags
How Gonzaga's Julian Strawther overcame stagefright to appreciate spotlight of Sweet 16 in hometown of Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — Liberty High School. Orleans Arena. T-Mobile Arena. The list of gymnasiums with a 702 area code that have played a role in Julian Strawther's career is long, and only getting longer. — Read more
'A positive entity with a big smile.' Zach Norvell Jr. has experienced game from different lens during return to Gonzaga
It's become a popular route for Gonzaga players upon checking out of games. They'll trade words with Mark Few. They'll go down the line of folding chairs exchanging high-fives and fist bumps with teammates. Finally, they'll stop at the end of the bench and pull up a seat next to the team's first-year student assistant. — Read more
Gonzaga players trying to walk fine line with social media during everyday lives, NCAA Tournament
The Zags have certainly seen the nastier side of social media, which presents a double-edged sword for student-athletes. They've grown up in the social media age, so they're accustomed to adoration that typically follows a good performance and biting criticism that rolls in if they or their team have a subpar showing. No topic appears to be off limits. — Read more
Dave Boling: Adam Morrison showed sports are at their best when athletes play from the heart
The fact that Adam Morrison's tears created a flood of mockery seems one of the historic low moments for that faction of wrong-headed sports observers. — Read more
NCAA Tournament: Best bets for the Sweet 16 and a breakdown of the UCLA-Gonzaga showdown
The Bruins must contain Drew Timme, or the Zags will prevail again. — Read more
